Dennis Brewer, candidate for Livingston County District Court, shows a text from a supporter to his wife Melanie Brewer at the home of neighbor Chris McDaniel after the polls closed and results start to trickle in.
GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Livingston County District Court Judge candidate Dennis Brewer and wife Melanie look at results displayed on the television of the Brewers' neighbor Chris McDaniel, who pulls up results on a tablet linked to their television using the Website for www.livgov.com. The Brewers' son Caleb, 9, is proud to respond to a pop-quiz of the names of various candidates and their political affiliations between updates to the web.
GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Melanie Brewer and her husband, Livingston County District Court candidate Dennis Brewer respond with smiles as early returns show a close race between Brewer and incumbent Judge Theresa Brennan.
GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

22nd State District Senate candidate Shari Pollesch (center) gets hugs of support from Pam Westmeier, left, and Michelle Charron at the Livingston County Democratic Party's results party held at the Community Unitarian Universalists of Brighton Church.
GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

With Democratic candidates for various races milling about and dancing and karaoke singers performing, Livingston County Democratic Party Judy Daubenmier (with glasses, at left) and others watch a number of races' results file in.
GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Republican candidate for 42nd District State House , Lana Theis, fields a steady stream of hugs and best wishes from supporters during an election night gathering at Brighton's Brewery Becker. Sam Theis is at right.
Photo by ALAN WARD / DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

A steady steam of drivers motor past a small forrest of political signs at the entrance to the Education Support Service Center, site of five Hartland precincts. Some observers on scene characterized turnout variously as heavier than normal, to good.
Photo by ALAN WARD / DAILY PRESS

Candidates Hank Vaupel, left, and James Weeks II, center, greet arriving voters outside Hartland's Education Support Service Center, site of five voting precincts. Vaupel is the Republican candidate for 47th District State House. Weeks is the Libertarian candidate for the 8th Congressional District.
Photo by ALAN WARD / DAILY PRESS

A steady steam of drivers motor past a small forrest of political signs at the entrance to the Education Support Service Center, site of five Hartland precincts. Some observers on scene characterized turnout variously as "heavier than normal" or "good."
Photo by ALAN WARD / DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

Candidates Hank Vaupel, left, and James Weeks II, center, greet arriving voters outside Hartland's Education Support Service Center, site of five voting precincts. Vaupel is the Republican candidate for 47th District State House. Weeks is the Libertarian candidate for the 8th Congressional District.
Photo by ALAN WARD / DAILY PRESS

This year's Howell Public Schools Board of Education race has been unusual, to say the least.

It's been dominated by uncertainty involving Superintendent Ron Wilson's status, uncertainty that stems from a dispute with current board members that only became public after the filing deadline. It's also an issue that may not be resolved until after the election.

That dispute, in part, helped promote a flurry of write-in candidates. With five, the number of write-in hopefuls more than doubles those whose names will actually appear on the ballot.

We believe GREGG GILLIGAN and write-ins DEBI DRICK and BRENT EARL are voters' best options.

Like many of the candidates, Gilligan, a retired educator and businessman, lacks elected office experience. That is a concern. Yet, he has been an educator, so he knows how the system should work, and a businessman, so he should understand balancing a budget.

Drick has school board experience. She served two years as a Howell trustee, including one year as board president. She served when Wilson was hired and knows, better than all the others, the challenges that lie ahead.

Of the other candidates, write-in Brent Earl also impressed us. He has been very active and involved in the community over many years. His commitment to the Howell community — his lifelong home — is unquestionable, as evidenced by this year's selection as the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.

As the spouse of a district teacher, Earl will be prevented from voting on the next teachers' union contract. It's a relatively new restriction, and one could argue about its merit. But it's the law, and it takes a major decision out of his hands.

Still, we believe Earl can have a positive influence on the district in other areas.

Brighton Area Schools is a wonderful district with great students and outstanding teachers, so why does there seem to be so much drama on its board?

Egos and personalities, in a nutshell.

With the district on the verge of wiping out its deficit, which has been an 800-pound gorilla on its back for several years, the district needs a board dedicated to listening, working together and making Brighton even better.

We believe three candidates — ANDY BURCHFIELD, DAVID CHESNEY and KEN STAHL — are the best ones to make this happen.

In interviews and during a candidate forum, these three emphasized the need for collaboration, transparency and working as a team. We also believe Burchfield, Chesney and Stahl recognize the need to keep expenditures in check.

We expect there to be disagreements on boards, and we want our elected officials to share their views, but in a civil manner. That hasn't always happened among the board and even from certain community members at school board meetings.

Burchfield, Chesney and Stahl are invested in the district, and we believe they are the best ones to move it forward.

This sums up our view of the Livingston County Board of Commissioners as it faces a slate of nine Democratic challengers.

The county board, under the leadership of Chairwoman Carol Griffith and Vice Chairman Steve Williams, has kept a tight rein on finances and managed to keep the county in top fiscal shape while weathering the Great Recession of 2009.

That was no small task. The county had to reduce staff and expenditures, moves that certainly aren't popular.

Despite the economic downturn, the county was able to move forward with a new county airport terminal, which should hopefully help the local economy, and a new EMS headquarters.

Now, in response to concerns about overcrowding at the jail, the county has broken ground on a $16.7 million jail expansion and renovation that won't cost the taxpayers any more money.

Impressive.

The Democrats have assembled a talented group of individuals who put forth well-meant concerns (more services for the elderly, more public transportation, keeping an eye on our environment), but that's what they do every two years. They raise issues and then disappear and then return for the next election.

We would hope they would pick an issue, work with local and county officials, and stick with it to make real change.

We believe ALL NINE REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS should be returned for another two-year term.

Governor

Clearly, Michigan is in better shape today than it was four years ago. The budget is balanced, and the annual standoff over the passage of a spending plan is a thing of the past.

Much of that can be attributed to the work of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Unemployment is down, but still too high. Housing construction is on the rise. Automakers are on a solid footing again. Attribute much of that to Snyder's push to eliminate the Michigan Business Tax, and then his effort, just concluded in the primary, to rid the state of the personal property tax on business equipment. He's improved the business climate.

There is much to do to keep Michigan moving forward. Retain RICK SNYDER.

Congress

For the 8th Congressional District, we believe voters should turn to Eric Schertzing.

A Democrat, Schertzing named as his top priority the preservation of Medicare and Social Security, programs that many in the district rely on and would be impoverished if they had to do without.

Schertzing is a conservative Democrat with an extensive resume of public service. He has been the Ingham County treasurer since 2001. He was previously an aide to former U.S. Rep. Bob Carr.

Schertzing gets kudos in the Lansing area for his involvement in the creation of the Ingham County Land Bank.

He knows the issues that confront Congress and has stated his support for the New International Trade Crossing bridge and the Senate's bipartisan immigration-reform proposal.

We endorse ERIC SCHERTZING for the 8th U.S. House seat.

22nd state Senate District

Republican Joe Hune has the experience needed to be a state senator. He knows how the legislative process works because he's been in Lansing representing his district for many years. Staunchly conservative, he reflects the conservative views of his 22nd state Senate District, which covers all of Livingston County.

He's accessible and involved in the community back home. He is also a well-respected member of the majority caucus in a Legislature dominated at present by Republicans.

He gets credit for being the only elected official to take significant action in the wake of the fungal meningitis outbreak, which hit Livingston particularly hard. Congress' reform was toothless. A grand jury produced nothing. Court action is expected to produce very little for those who were affected. But Hune sponsored and got passed real reforms to Michigan's regulations over compounding pharmacies.

He is effective for his district. That's the primary reason we urge voters to return JOE HUNE to the state Senate.

42nd state House District

Republican Lana Theis has extensive experience in local government, which should qualify her well to step up to the next level of government in the Legislature.

She is the Brighton Township treasurer and the past chairwoman of the Livingston County Republican Party Executive Committee.

Her conservative views match those of the 42nd Michigan House District, which includes Brighton and the townships of Brighton, Genoa, Green Oak, Hamburg and Putnam.

LANA THEIS is the odds-on favorite to win this seat.

47th state House District

Dr. Hank Vaupel has a long and varied resume in local government, and that qualifies him well to step up to the next level of public service, the Michigan House of Representatives.

Currently the supervisor of Handy Township, he has also been a trustee, on the Planning Commission, the secretary and a board member for the village of Fowlerville.

A veterinarian and business manager, he is in touch with two important constituencies in the district — business and agriculture.

A Republican, he is philosophically aligned with the conservative district, which consists of Conway, Cohoctah, Deerfield, Hartland, Howell, Handy, Iosco, Unadilla, Marion, Oceola and Tyrone townships, Howell and Fowlerville.

We think voters should pull the lever for HANK VAUPEL.

Livingston County District Court

That temperament has become the major issue of the campaign for Livingston County District Court should be taken as a sign that incumbent Judge Theresa Brennan needs to work on her people-handling skills.

But that is only one facet of a judge's qualifications. And on all other counts, Brennan is an excellent jurist and should be retained on the District Court bench.

She was a key player in the unification of Livingston County's court system. That involved the district judges saying, essentially, give us more work so that the need for an additional judge can be eliminated. Brennan now handles 30 percent of the Circuit Court's civil docket while handling the cases she'd normally see in District Court.

She has taken steps to improve the operations of the court in other ways.

We recommend voters retain THERESA BRENNAN as district judge.

Fowlerville

If voters want a change, they should turn to David Kuehn for Fowlerville village president.

If communication is an issue with a person carrying out multiple key roles in the village, there is a problem. If voters want a change, they will have to pick DAVID KUEHN.

Hamburg Township

Hamburg Township is asking voters to approve a 2-mill tax through 2018 and 1 mill after that point through 2028 for road improvement and maintenance.

Hamburg officials made a point of creating a citizen panel to suggest needs. Supervisor Pat Hohl said the $20.6 million the tax is expected to create over its lifetime is a "Band-Aid to try and augment what should be coming down from the state to the Road Commission."

Vote YES.

Hartland Township

Hartland Township is asking voters to approve 1.5 mills over the next 10 years to improve and maintain select township roads. That rate means people would pay $150 a year if they live in a home with a market value of $200,000.

In Hartland Township, the government set up a citizen task force to assess what road work has to be done. The effort has included surveys and meetings about what is best to address the township's road needs.

At the same time, Hartland officials believe the county is not getting adequate funding from the state. They are right, and that is not likely to change anytime soon.

Vote YES.

Howell Public Schools

The Howell district is asking voters to renew property taxes levied against commercial land, summer homes and other places that are not a person's primary place of residence. The rate is for up to 18 mills on nonhomestead property.

Under Howell's 12-year issue, the tax renewal would generate about $11.54 million a year.

Voters can't afford to not pass these measures if they wish to maintain quality schools.

Vote YES.

Pinckney Community Schools

Like Howell's proposal, this is a renewal on nonhomestead property. Voters don't pay it on their primary residence.

In Pinckney's case, a six-year renewal would provide about $3.73 million annually starting in 2015.

Other Livingston County districts levy similar taxes within their boundaries. The district just cannot afford to give up this revenue stream.

Vote YES.

Cromaine District Library

This popular facility serves Hartland Township and other parts of the Hartland Consolidated Schools district. The library is asking for a $12 million, 20-year bond issue to update, expand and equip the library in the the historic village area.

In a nod to how voters declined a bond request in 2010, Cromaine officials have turned the page and presented a measure this time that is "half the cost and delivers 70 percent of the space."

If voters approve it, they will pay a 0.86-mill tax rate in the first year and 0.76 mills for debt thereafter. If you own a home worth $200,000 on the market, the annual payments will be $86 and $76, respectively, at those rates.

We think that is a reasonable tab to support a resource that provides so much service to the community.

Vote YES.

Tyrone Township

Tyrone Township wants a six-year renewal of the assessments it charges for police and fire protection. The base sum would rise to $175 from the current $150 a year for property owners, but it could also be decreased.

We think the township has shown it can manage this approach to fulfilling critical public needs.

Voters should say YES.

Iosco Township

Iosco Township is asking voters for a five-year renewal of a 1.433-mill property tax for road maintenance and improvements as well as dust control.

If you own a home with a market value of $200,000, the bill is about $143 a year.